Crapo, Risch Introduce Legislation to Combat Surge of Illicit Drugs across Southern Border

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) joined Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee) to introduce the Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act.  This bill will expand Title 42 authority to turn back migrants to combat prolific drug smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border.

More than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl were seized and over 1 million migrants expelled at the southern border during Fiscal Year 2021, while Title 42 was in effect.  Title 42, which the Administration is preparing to end by May 23, 2022, currently only allows for the expulsion of migrants during the spread of communicable diseases.

“The soaring increase in drug overdose deaths in the last year is a public health crisis,” said Crapo.  “Mexico is a major source of the illicit flow of fentanyl into the United States, and more must be done to stop this deadly substance from entering our country.  This bill will help address the public health crisis facilitated by drug smuggling and enable our enforcement authorities on the border to keep a tighter grip on the record-breaking flow of illegal border crossings.” 

“President Biden refuses to address the flow of fentanyl across our southern border and into our communities,” said Risch.  “This bill will protect Idaho from experiencing the dual impacts of the immigration crisis and drug use crisis, spurred by the Administration’s open border policies.”

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